Control for hot-water systems



Nov. 8, 1949 A. J. THOMPSON CONTROL FOR HOT WATER SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1945 if JTkampsaiz' IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 8, 1949 A. J. THOMPSON CONTROL FOR HOT WATER SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30) 1945 a 1 a a U.

fl. lTilompyaib IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL FOR HOT-WATER SYSTEMS Ashley J. Thompson, Norfolk, Va.

Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 591,161

3 Claims. 1

This invention has for its object the provision in a hot water heating system of a novel control for the regulation of boiler water pressure and temperature, so as to prevent damage to the heating system from high temperature exceeding the normal boiling point of water in the system, the system being of such nature that the water is to be kept from boiling until a high degree of temperature is reached, depending on the water pressure in the system.

The drawings show a satisfactory embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that a mechanic, exercising the skill of his calling and working within the scope of what is claimed, may make changes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a device of the class described, incorporated in a hot water heating system, the construction of which is satisfactory but not mandatory.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the structure whereby regulation is accomplished.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Figure 2.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, a typical and satisfactory installation is shown. The numeral I marks a boiler, and the numeral 2 designates a radiator. At 3 there is shown a feed main connected to the boiler I and merging into a return line 4, likewise connected to the boiler. The feed main 3 is connected at 5 to the radiator 2, and the radiator is connected at 6 to the return line 4.

A power-driven pump I is interposed in the return line 4, in the vicinity of the boiler I. A flow control or check valve 8 is interposed in the return line 4, between the pump I and the boiler I. An expansion tank is shown at 9. The expansion tank 9 is connected at III to the feed main 3. A relief valve II is interposed in the feed main 3, between the tank connection ID and the boiler I.

The numeral I2 designates a cold water supply conduit, in communication with the return line 4 at a place closely adjacent to the boiler I. A valve I4, under the control of an operator, is mounted in the cold water supply conduit I2. The controlling mechanism forming the subject matter of this application, as to structure, is indicated generally at I5. The upper portion of the controlling mechanism I5 is in communication with the cold water supply conduit I2, and

the lower portion of the said mechanism is in communication with the feed main 3, between the relief valve II and the boiler I.

The numeral I6 designates mere radiator duplication.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, the letter C designates, generally, an upright casing, including a hollow base I'I, made up of separately connected parts, the base having a depending nipple I8, in communication with the feed main 3, at a place as near to the boiler I as is possible, to the end that the device forming the subject matter of this application may operate at the slightest override in high temperature that may become dangerous, owing to boiler water flashing into steam.

The lower ends of standards I9 are secured to the top of the base H, the upper ends of the standards being connected to an intermediate partition 20, the standards being surrounded by a jacket 2|, which extends between the top of the base I1 and the partition 20. The lower end of a tubular housing 22 is secured to the intermediate partition 20. The intermediate partition 20 is supplied with a drain orifice 23 for the housing 22.

A head 24 is detachably secured to the upper end of the housing 22 and may be considered as part of the casing 0.

Referring to Figure 2, and working upwardly through the parts as shown, a bushing 25 is threaded into the upper portion of the nipple l8. The upper end of a bulb 26 is secured in the bushing 25, the bulb containing volatile liquid 21. The bulb 26 extends downwardly into that part of the feed main 3 which is immediately adjacent to the boiler I, and in case the water in the boiler becomes overheated, the liquid 21 will be transformed into a gas.

The numeral 28 marks an expansible container, preferably a bellows, supported on the bottom of the base I! and including an inlet 29, secured in the bushing 25 and in communication with the bulb 26. On top of the bellows 28 is mounted a rider 36, having an upstanding tubular cufi 3!.

Above the cuff 3| of the rider 3!! is disposed an upwardly bulged, rigid guide disk 32, having a central opening 33. To the lower surface of the guide disk 32, a resilient, downwardly-dished, snap diaphragm 34 is attached by securing elements 35. The diaphragm 34 comprises a plurality of radial arms 66, as Figure 4 shows. The diaphragm 34 rests on the cuff 3| of the rider 30. The outer end of a spring tongue 36 is secured at 31 to the under surface of the guide disk 32 and extends inwardly, to overhang and bear upon the central portion of the diaphragm 34, the spring tongue constituting means for restoring the diaphragm to the downwardly convexed condition of Figure 2, after the diaphragm has been dished upwardly and after upward pressure on the diaphragm has beenrelieved. In its inner end, the spring tongue 36 is supplied with a notch 38, shown in Figure 4.

A guide; 39 is threadediinto thetop of the base H, the guide functioning also as an adjuster in a manner to be pointed out hereinafter. A tappet 40 is mounted for reciprocation in the guide 39 and passes through the opening 33 of the guide disk 32, the tappet passing through the notch 38 of the resilient tongue 36, and resting on. the central portion of the diaphragm 34. Themember 32 is called a guide disk because it centralizes the tappet 40 with respect to the central. portion of the diaphragm 34.

A guide 4| is threaded into the intermediate partition 20 of the casing C and functions as an adjuster, in a way to be set forth hereinafter. A plunger 42 is mounted for reciprocation in-the guide 4|. The upper end of the tappet 40 is threaded for adjustment into the lower end of the plunger 42, and a lock nut 43 on the tappet engages the lower end of the plunger. The tappet 49 and the plunger 42 may be referred to as a slide'ofadjustable length, carried by the casing C for reciprocation.

Aj, disk-like seat 44 normally is supported on the upper end of the guide 4|. The seat 44 supports a compression spring 45. The upper end oi-the'compress-ion spring 45 engages a seat 46 on the lower surface of a resilient diaphragm 4 1, bound peripherally between the upper end of the, housing 22 and the lower portion of the head24. A stem 48 constitutes means for, holding the spring seat 46 and the diaphragm together, the stem being provided at its upper end with alaterally extended valve head 49.

The member 24 is supplied witha partition50, definingan upper chamber and. a lower chamber the diaphragm 41 extending across the lower end of the chamber 52. The chamber 5| and.the chamber 52, Main communicationwith the coldwater supply conduit |2, the partition 50 constituting an intervening separator.

The partition 5,9.is supplied with a threaded, verticalpassage 53.. A closure 54 is detachably mounted in the upper portion of the head 24 and carries a screen 55, which extends down: wardly across theupper chamber 5| and into the passage53. A guide 56 is threaded into the lower end of the passage 53, the stem 48 being mounted to reciprocate in the guide, the head 49 being disposed above the guide and being adapted to engage the guide, the guide thus constituting a seat for the member 49.

When the gas in the bulb 26 expands responsive to an undesirable rise of temperature in the water of the boiler I, the bellows 28 expands, raisingv the rider 39v and the snap diaphragm 34, the diaphragm being, in the downwardly concaved position of Figure 2. The slide 4042 moves freely upward until the disk 32 comes into contact with the adjustable guide 39.

The pressure builds up in the bulb 26. The cuff 3|- of the rider 39 exerts upward pressure ondiaphragm 34, inwardly of the securing elements. 35 which join the diaphragm to the disk 32'. The diaphragm 34 snaps from downwardly concaved position to upwardly convexed position, the spring tongue 36- being put under increased 4 effort. The slide 4|l42 is raised, spring 45 is compressed, the diaphragm 41 yields upwardly, the stem 48 opens the valve head 49 with a quick movement, and cold water can pass through the pipe I2, into the return pipe 4, and thence into the lower portion of the boiler.

The relief valve ll of Figure 1 is set to open at a predetermined pressure. When the valve head 49 at the top of Figure 2 opens as aforesaid, the cold water in the pipe l2, acting hydrostatically, gives an addedincrement to pressure in the boiler I.

The boiler pressure increases to a point where it is greater than the predetermined pressure at which the relief valve II has been set, the relief valve opens, and boiler pressure is eased off, but not to a point at which the boiler water will flash into steam.

When boiler water temperature is reduced, the device operates by a reverse action (which need not be setforth indetail) to close thevalve 49. The system then operates in the normal way, the valve 49 remaining closed until a condition arises which causes it to open. The spring tongue 35 functions to return the diaphragm 34 the downwardly concaved position of Figure-2.

The snap operation of the diaphragm 34 is desirable because the normal temperature of the boiler water will at all times operate the bellows 28 to some extent, and in the absence of a snap operation, the valve 49 would be actuated when there was nooccasion for actuating it, the-reducing valve H beingopened before a high temperature in the boiler water called for an openmg.

The guide 39 is an adjuster, which regulates the time when the diaphragm changes from downwardly convexed position to upwardly convexed-position, responsive to temperature change inthe boiler water.

The guide 4| forms an adjuster for varying. the compressive effort of the spring 45, to the end that the valve 49 will so function that a proper water level will be maintained in the boiler I. When boiler water temperature rises toohigh, the setting effected by the guide" or adjuster 4| is overcome, and the valve 49 opens.

The casing C may be referred toasa support. The chambers 5|. and 52 form a cold water conduit. The bulb 26 is a receiver for volatile material.

What is claimed is:

1. In acoldwater control for a boiler, asupport, an expansiblecontainer associated'with the support, a receiver for volatile liquid in communication with the container, a snap diaphragm carried by the container for bodily movement responsive to container expansion and contraction, a stop on the support limiting said bodily movement inone direction for snapping of the diaphragm on continuedcontainer, expansion, a valve movably mounted. on the support a slide mounted on the support and engaged with the diaphragm. for movement responsive to bodily movement and snap action of the diaphragm and acompression spring interposedibetween the slide and the valve.

2. In a cold water control for a boiler, a support, an expansible container associated with the support, a receiver for volatile material in communication with the container, a rigid member, a snap diaphragm secured to the rigid member, means for mounting the snap diaphragm on the container for bodilymovement responsive to con,- tainer expansion and.contraction, a: guide en:

gageable with the rigid member and mounted on the support, the guide being adjustable toward and away from the rigid member to provide a stop limiting said bodily movement in one direction, for snapping of the diaphragm responsive to continued container expansion, a valve movably mounted on the support, a slide engaged with the diaphragm for movement responsive to bodily movement and snap action of the diaphragm, and mounted for reciprocation in the adjustable guide and in the rigid member, and a compression spring interposed between the slide and the valve.

3. A cold water control for a boiler, constructed as set forth in claim 2, and wherein the means for mounting the snap diaphragm comprises a rider sealed on the container and having projecting means on which the diaphragm rests, said projecting means adapted to exert pressure against the diaphragm for snapping thereof on 6 cessation of bodily movement of the diaphragm, and said means engaging the diaphragm in spaced relation to the longitudinal axis of the slide.

ASHLEY J. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

